Government responds to senior maths and science assessment inquiry

The Newman Government has backed the recommendations of a Parliamentary Committee report that will help shape the future of Queensland’s senior assessment and Overall Position (OP) tertiary entrance process.

Responding to the Parliamentary Committee report on senior mathematics, chemistry and physics assessment methods, Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said the government supported a back to basics approach.

“Everything the Newman Government does in education is directed towards achieving better student outcomes,” Mr Langbroek said.

“That’s why we established the inquiry and why we have committed to act on the Committee’s recommendations.

“The major outcomes of this will be a greater emphasis on numerical marking and a review of students’ written assignments.

 “I will be directing Education Queensland to ensure all state schools review their assessment workloads and are encouraged to consider their assessment practices. 

“The government supports the recommendation to limit the role of inquiry-based assessment in determining overall levels of achievement in maths, chemistry and physics subjects.

“This is about getting back to basics, removing the confusion and allowing schools to make decisions about the best way to assess their students based on the expectations of their school communities.”

Mr Langbroek said he would also request that the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) convene workshops in 2014 for all schools’ science heads of department to improve assessment practices.

“The QSA will be directed to formally amend syllabuses to require that no more than two extended experimental investigations be conducted per subject per year as part of the implementation of the Australian Curriculum,” he said.

“They will also write to all principals clarifying the use of numerical marking, and develop resources that explain how marks can be linked to syllabus standards and criteria.”

Mr Langbroek said the Newman Government’s response would see direct action arising from 12 of the Committee’s 16 recommendations.

“The remaining recommendations which in part relate to external exams will be referred to the review of senior assessment and tertiary entrance processes currently being conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER),” he said.

“While the Committee held a positive view of external exams, these proposals fall directly within the terms of reference of the ACER review commissioned by the government, and it’s appropriate that they should be subject to expert consideration and public consultation.”

ACER is due to hand its final report to the government by the end of July 2014.

Mr Langbroek thanked the Parliamentary Education and Innovation Committee for its work, and the many organisations and individuals who provided their views during the course of the inquiry.

[ENDS] 27 December 2013

Media Contact:  Danita Goodwin 0439 886 652